Christmas came early for the parks, maintenance and public works departments. Monday night, Mexico City Council members approved the purchase of new equipment for the departments and voted to cancel the Christmas Eve council meeting.

The meeting opened with Mayor Ron Leosch and all four councilmen present.

The first order of new business was the reading and passage of a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a Grease Trap Program agreement with the Audrain County Health Department.

The Mexico City Code requires suitable grease, oil and grit interceptors to be installed in all commercial food preparation businesses. The grease interceptors must be maintained continuously in efficient operation by the business owner at the business owner's expense. The city requires such grease interceptors be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection.

ACHD agreed to perform the public health related service and function related to the Grease Trap Inspection Program within the Mexico city limits. An inspection cycle and updated list will be agreed upon by both parties and the city will be provided a written monthly report. The City will pay a $50 fee per year for each business listed with a grease trap. The City has also included in the agreement that special requests or inspections related to grease traps and as requested by the City, may be billed separately and at a rate not to exceed $25 per hour. This will be an annual agreement effective Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2013 and will automatically renew unless either party receives written notice of cancellation.

Councilman Chris Wil-liams questioned the service charge, saying he understood any services the health department held under its old name (Audrain City-County Health Unit) would carry over under the department's new title (Audrain County Health Department) as well. Staff explained the new health department is no longer under city code. The newly established entity now operates under state codes. Currently, there are 39 business names on the list. Council approved the resolution 5-0.

Members also approved the purchase of a 1/2-ton pickup truck for the Parks Maintenance Department. The 2012-2013 annual budget allows $20,150 for the parks department to purchase a 1/2 ton 4x2 pickup truck to replace an existing truck. Bids were sent to 11 vendors and advertised appropriately.

Four bids were returned: Auffenburg Motor Company; Carroll-Rehma Motors Inc., Linn; Joe Machens Ford Lincoln, Columbia; and Pearl Motor Company in Mexico. Machens was considered the low bid and falls within the City's Purchasing Policy reflecting a 5 percent local preference to businesses located in the city of Mexico. Council approved the purchase of the 1/2-ton pickup from Joe Machens Ford of Columbia at the purchase price of $17,291. Pearl's bid (including trade-in) was $18,164; Carroll-Rehma was $18,515; Auffenberg bid $25,216 for a 2013 Ford and $23,186 for a Dodge 2013 and a $750-$1,000 trade-in value.

Council questioned why staff didn't recommend the local vendors and was told they would have to adopt new ordinance and new city policy to do so. Members chose not to make those changes and to accept Machens' bid.

Page 2 of 2 - In other news, the council heard and approved the following:

• the purchase of GPS (global positioning satellite) equipment for the public works department engineering division for $11,040 from Field2Finish, a carbon fiber pole at $330 and two days of truing at $1,980 for a total cost of $13,350;

• a motion to cancel the Dec. 24, 2012 meeting. According to City Manager Bruce Slagle and staff, if a meeting becomes necessary, a special meeting can be called. Slagle said the bills and claims can be pre-paid.